Former Scotland manager Craig Brown claims it is "inevitable" that Alex McLeish will be offered the chance to return to club football, possibly with Birmingham City.

McLeish has been linked with various jobs in the Premier League due to his performance as Scotland boss. The disappointment of missing out on Euro 2008 qualification has turned the focus on McLeish’s future, and the latest club he has been linked to is Birmingham City.

Blues look set to lose manager Steve Bruce to Wigan Athletic this week.

But Brown believes the 48-year-old McLeish may turn down top jobs in order to stay as manager of the national team, and claims the former Rangers boss could stay with Scotland "for the next decade". He is contracted until the end of Scotland’s 2010 World Cup campaign.

Brown told BBC Radio Scotland: "It’s inevitable that he will get big offers. It’s also inevitable that huge compensation will be offered because if Birmingham get the £3million that they’re talking about for their manager going to Wigan - if Steve Bruce is worth £3million, what’s Alex McLeish worth?"

McLeish could also benefit financially from a return to the club game, but Brown believes there is significant prestige involved in being an international manager.

"I think he’d be tempted but I would hope, when he considers everything, that he would stay," Brown added.

"I would think the pinnacle of a manager’s career is managing his country and, looking at the situation Alex could do the Scotland job for the next decade and do it very well."

Scotland will be among the second seeds for Sunday’s World Cup qualifying draw in Durban, having only been fourth seeds for the Euro 2008 campaign.